While the vast majority of the African continent has long extended diplomatic recognition to the State of Palestine, a critical mass of over 50 African Union (AU) member states affirming statehood, a small handful of nations stand as notable exceptions. The overall trend in Africa is one of strong solidarity and support, making these outliers the most “buzzkilling” part of the story for proponents of continental consensus.
Vocal Supporters & Key African Actors 🗣️
The consensus across Africa is one of unwavering support, with recognition largely granted immediately following the 1988 Palestinian declaration. Several nations play particularly active roles in supporting the Palestinian cause on the global stage:
| Country | Recognition Date / Key Support | Details of Support |
| Algeria | November 1988 | Was the first African country to recognize Palestine immediately following the 1988 declaration. |
| Zimbabwe | November 1988 | Maintains an embassy for the State of Palestine and consistently affirms its solidarity. |
| Egypt | November 1988 | Recognized in 1988; frequently plays a crucial mediating role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict due to its shared border and diplomatic influence. |
| Nigeria | November 1988 | Votes reliably in favour of Palestinian positions in the UN and offers strong diplomatic support. |
| Kenya | May 1989 | Supports the two-state solution as the path to peace and stability in the region. |
| South Africa | Recognized in 1995 (following the end of apartheid) | One of the most vocal and ardent supporters on the continent, repeatedly affirming the right of Palestine to statehood and using international forums, including the UN, to affirm solidarity. |
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The Rest of the Recognizing Continent
Beyond the key supporters, the list of African nations that formally recognize the State of Palestine is extensive, constituting a massive bloc of diplomatic support at the African Union and the United Nations.
Recognizing African Countries (All Recognized the State of Palestine):
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia.
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The Non-Recognizers (The Exceptions)
Only a couple of AU member states have not formally recognized the State of Palestine, setting them apart from the overwhelming continental majority.
| Country | Recognition Status / Stance | Key Context |
| Cameroon | Does not formally recognize the State of Palestine. | This is one of the continent’s most persistent outliers. Its long-standing political relationship with Israel, including security cooperation, is often cited as a primary reason for its non-recognition. |
| Eritrea | Has not formally recognized the State of Palestine. | Eritrea’s position is also non-recognition, though the specific political drivers for its stance are generally considered less clear or publicly defined than those of Cameroon. |